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Final Production, from Film to Stage, Art and Religion, and More

Final Production: The Flamingo Kid, the last production of Darko Tresnjak’s tenure as artistic director at Hartford Stage, begins performances Thursday, May 9 and runs through Sunday, June 9. It is the third musical that he has directed at the stage with the goal of moving it to Broadway. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder won multiple Tony awards and Anastasia has just completed a Broadway run. The Flamingo Kid is inspired by the 1984 film that started Matt Dillon. It tells the story of Jeffrey Winnick who, as the press materials say, leaves behind his blue-collar roots for a job working as a cabana boy at a posh Long Island private club. Of course, he meets a girl. Among the high powered cast are Tony nominees Liz Larsen and Marc Kudisch, plus many others. Samantha Massell, who played the lead in Goodspeed’s production of Rags and won awards for her work, plays the girl he meets. For tickets, visit hartfordstage.org or call 860-527-5151.

From Film to Stage: Interracial romance can challenge people to put their stated beliefs into practice. That was the basis of 1967 film, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner featuring Spencer Tracey, Katharine Hepburn, and Sidney Poitier. It was filmed when some states still outlawed interracial marriage. Now Ivoryton Playhouse is presenting a stage adaptation of the work from Wednesday, April 24 to Sunday, May 12. It is still set in 1967, but audiences will find it relevant today. For tickets, visit ivortyonplayhouse.org or call 860-767-7318.

Art and Religion: Playhouse on Park in West Hartford is presenting My Name is Asher Lev, from Wednesday, April 24 to Sunday, May 12. The play, based on the novel by Chaim Potok, is about a young Jewish painter torn between his Hasidic upbringing, which views art as corrupting, and his need to fulfill his artistic promise. For tickets, visit playhouseonpark.org or call 860-523-5900

Fairytale? The new show at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre in Chester, Hi, My Name Is Ben, is billed as a modern-day fairy tale about communication and connection. The show, which opens Friday, May 17 and runs through Sunday, June 9, was developed at the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed. The press materials says, “Bernhardt Wichmann III changed the lives of those around him without ever speaking a word. Using just his notepad, pen, and open heart, Ben turned a neighborhood of strangers into a community of friends, before finally encountering a miracle of his own.” One of the cast members, CJ Pawilkowski, is currently appearing in TheaterWorks’ Girlfriend. For tickets, visit goodspeed.org or call 860-873-8668.

Two Plays in One: The Connecticut Rep on the UConn campus in Storrs is combining Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 for its final production of the season. The two plays showed the future King Henry V mature from a carousing youth into a prince fit for the throne. It runs Thursday, April 25 to Sunday, June 5. For tickets, visit crt.uconn.edu.

Don’t Forget: The multiple- award-winning Come from Away is at the Bushnell Tuesday, April 30 to Sunday, May 5. This show tells the story of people coming together to help each other after Sept. 11. I’ve had friends see the national tour and they tell me it is terrific. For tickets, visit bushnell.org or call 860-987-5900.

Two More Plays for Next Season: Hartford Stage has announced the last two plays for next season. Former artistic director Michael Wilson will return to direct The King’s Speech, an adaptation of the film. New Artistic Director Melia Bensussen will direct Eugene O’Neill’s classic comedy Ah, Wilderness! as her first production. Press materials say it will feature period-appropriate live music. It’s set in Connecticut over the 4th of July in the early 20th century as a teenager falls in love with the girl-next-door. Dates will be announced soon. Subscriptions are available at hartfordstage.org.

On Broadway: A surprise hit on Broadway this season is Heidi Schreck’s What the Constitution Means to Me. I saw it off-Broadway last fall and found it fascinating. Schreck, who wrote and performs in this somewhat autobiographical play, made money for college by competing in and winning American Legion sponsored debates on aspects of our Constitution. She brings us back to that time, and reminds us how this 200-plus year old document has impacted lives, focusing on her grandmother, her mother, and herself. It’s at the Helen Hayes Theatre on W. 44th Street. Tickets are available through Telecharge.

Karen Isaacs is an East Haven resident. To check out her reviews for New York and Connecticut shows, visit 2ontheaisle.wordpress.com. She’s a member of both the Connecticut Critics Circle and New York’s Outer Critics Circle.